Instructure Confirms Canvas Security Breach, Hackers Exploit Flaw to Deface Portals
Instructure, the developer of the Canvas learning management system (LMS), has confirmed a security breach that allowed hackers to exploit a vulnerability and deface login portals. The breach involved multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities, enabling attackers to obtain authenticated admin sessions. Initially discovered on April 29, the breach led to the theft of over 3.6 terabytes of uncompressed data, which was later published by the hacker group ShinyHunters. The hackers used the same vulnerability to conduct a second attack on May 7, aiming to pressure Instructure into paying a ransom. The breach affected the Free-for-Teacher environment, a limited version of Canvas LMS. Instructure temporarily took Canvas offline to prevent further malicious activity and applied additional safeguards. The hackers' actions impacted 8,809 educational organizations, with stolen data including usernames, email addresses, and course information.